Choosing the Best Baby Toys: From Birth to 1 Year

Depending on their age and skill development, a toddler is interested in different toys. Find out what amuses your baby during their first year of life.

What entertains a baby from 0 to 6 months

During the first months, a baby learns to discover his environment with all his senses. Objects attract him because of their colors, shine, movement, sounds and textures. This stimulates his senses and gradually promotes the development of his motor skills.

Play mats are interesting at this age because they provide several different stimulations.

Hearing stimulating toys such as musical mobiles , rattles and music boxes are also suitable for babies under 6 months.

Soft stuffed animals and fabrics of different textures are other fun toys to stimulate the sense of touch and help a child of this age gradually become aware of his body.

It should be noted, however, that up to 3 months , a baby is more interested and stimulated by the face and voice of people who are significant to him than by objects.

So, the interactions that parents have with their little one count a lot to entertain him and stimulate his senses. Just talk to him, rock him, sing him soft songs, caress him, massage him.

Toys become more important around 4 months of age , when the baby begins to be able to grasp them voluntarily. Around 5 or 6 months , he likes objects that he can easily take with his hands, and even more those that make noise, such as rattles.

Suggested toys for a baby from 0 to 6 months

• Music box
• Rattle
• Teething toy
• Toys that float in the bath
• Mobile
• Plush
• Play mat

What Entertains a 6 Month to 1 Year Old Baby

The suggested age on the packaging gives a good indication. A toy that is too complex for a child may cause him to lose interest in it, even for later, when he will be able to use it.

The baby continues to explore his body and his environment. Thus, games that allow the stimulation of touch are always a winner with a child of this age.

For example, he likes to play with stuffed animals , cushions or fabrics (comforters) of different textures.

He also likes to look at a book with an adult . He appreciates the pictures, but also books that allow him to touch different textures.

Mirrors continue to attract him, but he is not yet aware that it is his reflection that he sees in them. He also enjoys imitating his parents' gestures. He enjoys playing "peekaboo" and waving "well done" and "goodbye".

From 6 months , a toddler also enjoys manipulating objects of different shapes and sizes (e.g.: ball, balloon, block, stuffed animal, cushion, blanket). These activities practice moving and using his hands and fingers to grasp objects.

Around 10 months , a baby is more skillful in his manipulations and he begins to have fun emptying and filling containers repeatedly, opening and closing them. The plastic cupboard of dishes in the kitchen then becomes very attractive to him. He also has a lot of fun with containers at bath time .

At this age, a toddler also enjoys fitting objects together and building block towers. Fabric and soft rubber blocks are preferable to wooden blocks to prevent baby from getting hurt if the tower falls on him. Sticking and unsticking Velcro is another fun activity that also has the advantage of developing fine motor skills.

A baby also explores by moving on his own , first by crawling on his stomach, then on all fours and, finally, by walking. Around 10 months , obstacle courses created with, for example, cushions, blankets and cardboard boxes therefore amuse him a lot.

Suggested toys for a baby from 6 months to 1 year old

• Ball
• Fabric or rubber blocks
• Container to fill and empty
• Nesting and stacking toys
• Push and pull toys
• Toys for imitation (telephone, etc.)
• Hardback picture books
• Unbreakable mirror
• Teddy bear

It is essential to choose toys that are appropriate for your baby's age and stage of development. In the first few months, sensory toys that stimulate the senses and encourage discovery of the environment are preferred.

As your baby grows , he will be drawn to more interactive games and activities that encourage his motor skills and exploration of the world around him. By ensuring that you provide him with a variety of toys that are appropriate for each stage of his development, you contribute to his awakening and well-being.